The Bristol Historical and Preservation Society and the Rogers Free Library will commemorate the 350th anniversary of the King Philip War with a three session Book Club which will be held on the first Saturdays in February, March, and April at the Library at 1 pm.

On June 20, 1675, Pokanoket warriors killed seven colonists in Swansea in retaliation for a series of injustices suffered at the hands of the English. Generally considered the beginning of King Philip’s War, this act led to a bloody conflict that involved every New England colony and Algonquian peoples throughout the region. Local tribes attacked more than half of all the settlements in New England and reduced about a dozen towns in Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies to ashes. By the end of the War in August of 1676, more than 600 settlers had died and 1,200 homes had been burned. An estimated 3,000 Native Americans died at the hands of the English. 

• The first book, to be discussed on February 1st, will be Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick. 
• The second book, for discussion on March 1st will be Diary of King Philip’s War, 1675-1676 by Benjamin Church.
• The final discussion will cover the book, The Name of War by Jill Lepore, on April 5th.

Copies of the books will be available for checkout at the Library circulation desk a month in advance of the discussion date. 

For more information contact BHPS or the Rogers Free Library.